Justin Roberts rejoined the Tennessee State University Football staff in spring of 2011 as the defensive coordinator and defensive end coach.

He originally served as the defensive line coach for the Big Blue from 2006-09. In 2009, TSU’s defense was ranked first in the Ohio Valley Conference.

He enters after spending two seasons at Western Caroilna joining the staff in spring 2009. He served as the defensive line coach before taking over coaching responsibilities of the linebacking corp.

Prior to his three years in Nashville, Roberts spent a year at Texas A&M-Commerce from 2005-06, where he served as the defensive line coach, leading the Lone Star Conference in total defense.

His first coaching position came in 1997 at Columbia, Missouri’s Hickman HS where he was an assistant strength and conditioning coach and the assistant offensive line coach.

After two years at Hickman, Roberts entered the college ranks as the defensive line and head strength and conditioning coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M from 1997-99.

He then moved to Oklahoma State in 2000 for his first of two stints in Stillwater. Roberts worked with the linebackers and the defensive line as a graduate assistant for the Cowboys.

In 2002, he moved on to the University of North Carolina and worked as a graduate assistant. In his two seasons with the Tar Heels, he assisted with the defensive line and the secondary. In 2003, he worked as a defensive coach for the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic.

Roberts returned to Oklahoma State for one year and worked as the assistant strength and conditioning coach.

He coordinated the position specific summer 7-on-7 and pass rush programs for the Cowboys.

The Hannibal, Mo. native played his collegiate career as a center at Missouri Southern State. He was a two-year letterman and was a part of the 1993 MIAA Conference Champions.

In 1996, Roberts was named to the National Strength & Conditioning All-America Team.

Roberts graduated from Missouri Southern in 1996 with a degree in Criminal Justice Administration. He earned a teaching certificate in Social Studies from Lincoln University in 1999.

During the summer of 2009, Roberts was married to the former Jessica Hayes of Chapel Hill, N.C.